Who are we

We give hope by transforming the lives of women and children affected by human trafficking, slavery and sexual exploitation in Australia and Cambodia.

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Who are we

PROJECT FUTURES

We give hope by transforming the lives of women and children affected by human trafficking, slavery and sexual exploitation in Australia and Cambodia.

PROJECT FUTURES connects people to the issue of human trafficking, slavery and exploitation by creating meaningful experiences that raise funds, educate and empower our generation to take action.

Funds generated support established projects in the Asia-Pacific region that help prevent, support and empower those affected, which currently includes Australia and Cambodia.

What is Human Trafficking and slavery?

Modern slavery occurs when a person cannot refuse, or leave a situation because of physical threats, violence, psychological coercion, abuse of power or deception.

It refers to one person possessing or controlling another in such a way as to significantly deprive them of their personal freedom with the intention of exploiting that person for use, profit, transfer or disposal.

Human trafficking involves the illegal trade of human beings for the purpose of (amongst others) cheap or slave labour, sexual and domestic servitude; to service a debt or enter a marriage by force.

It is the recruitment of persons through force, coercion, deception or abduction for the purpose of exploitation. Victims are then enslaved and found working in industries including construction, hospitality, the sex industry, agriculture and domestic work in households.

45.8 MILLION ENSLAVED*

In our world today

2 MILLION CHILDREN**

Sold in the next year

FASTEST GROWINGCRIME industry

Source: *Global Slavery Index 2016, Walk Free, ** Source: UNICEF

PROJECT FUTURES is a registered public benevolent institution with DGR1 status, which means that any donation over $2 is tax-deductible.

Impact Partners

IMPACT PARTNERS

We partner with service providers in the Asia Pacific region in three key areas; prevention, support services and empowerment.

Impact Partners

IMPACT PARTNERS

We partner with service providers in the Asia Pacific region in three key areas; prevention, support services and empowerment.

OUR SOLUTION

Cambodia

cambodia

Cambodia remains a source and destination country for exploitation of women and children, including forced marriage, trafficking for marriage, commercial sexual exploitation and orphanage tourism.

There are an estimated 256,800* living in modern-day slavery and ranked third in the world for prevalence as a percentage of the population.

Cambodia

cambodia

Cambodia remains a source and destination country for exploitation of women and children, including forced marriage, trafficking for marriage, commercial sexual exploitation and orphanage tourism.

There are an estimated 256,800* living in modern-day slavery and ranked third in the world for prevalence as a percentage of the population.

AFESIP CAMBODIA

PROJECT FUTURES has supported AFESIP Cambodia (AFESIP) since 2009; an organisation based on the vision and life’s work of Cambodian survivor and activist, Somaly Mam.

Weak law enforcement, corruption, grinding poverty and the fractured social institutions left by the country’s turbulent recent history has helped earn Cambodia and unwelcome reputation for child trafficking and sexual abuse.

While the majority of child sex offenders are locals (with the median age of rape victims being as young as 12 years old); the magnitude of Cambodia's cases of child sex tourism makes it a popular destination for offenders too.

AFESIP seeks to care for and secure the rights of women and girls who have been victims or at-risk of human trafficking and sex slavery by providing safe and secure housing, confidential psychological support, routine and emergency medical treatments, as well as professional legal assistance to girls and young women affected by physical and sexual violence.

With approximately 18.6% of people living below the poverty line, access to education and safe employment opportunities can mean the difference between a person being “re-trafficked” into a life of servitude and one of long-term financial independence.

AFESIP also helps young girls enrol or return to school, employ reintegrated survivors into trades such as hairdressing and tailoring or gain scholarships to university, with many choosing to complete courses in Psychology, IT and Accounting.

AFESIP is our longest standing Impact Partner.

Australia

Australia

Australia is a source and destination country for human trafficking and slavery. There are an estimated 4,300 people enslaved in Australia today; however, due to the hidden nature of this crime, likely to be highly under-reported.

Australia

Australia

Australia is a source and destination country for human trafficking and slavery. There are an estimated 4,300 people enslaved in Australia today; however, due to the hidden nature of this crime, likely to be highly under-reported.

THE salvation army's trafficking AND SLAVERY SAFE HOUSE

This Safe House opened in 2008 and remains the only supported accommodation service in Australia for individuals experiencing human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices.

Clients (and their families) are assisted to overcome extreme disadvantage through a comprehensive supported accommodation service, complex case management and given help to navigate complex systems and social structures.

Case managers work with individuals to empower and strengthen their abilities; working toward a full realisation of their human rights. The Safe House simultaneously advocates for systemic change to decrease the barriers faced by individuals following exploitation; utilising a unique survivor led movement to do this. Case Managers resource and guide clients to learn living skills, navigate complex legal and migration situations and break down language, employment and education barriers—in turn reducing vulnerability to further exploitation.

Physical and mental health concerns contribute significantly to a person’s vulnerability and capacity to rebuild their lives. Trauma left untreated can disrupt a person’s ability to live independently and productively. Comprehensive and consistent psychological support is provided until they are confident they can support themselves, and the trauma they have experienced no longer intrudes on their everyday life. Psychological support is often not available to those without an income. The Safe House ensures that treatment is available regardless of income as it is critical to building a future.

The Freedom advocates project

The Freedom Advocates Project provides an opportunity for survivors of modern slavery to use their experiences to publicly advocate, consult with Government or mentor other victims in a safe and supported environment.

It offers participants’ validation of their experience, empowers them to speak out and reaffirms their worth as a wholly unique and powerful human being.

The goals of the Freedom Advocates are to:

Improve the response to trafficking and slavery in Australia by considering the experience of people who have survived;

Enhance the effectiveness of advocacy in the field by survivors using their experiences in a constructive and useful way;

Engage the Australian community with the issue of human trafficking and exploitation via community connections

Meet some of the Advocates:

Margaret

Margaret has been advocating for the rights of people who have experienced human trafficking, slavery and slavery like practices for more than four years due to her own experience of modern slavery as a domestic worker. Margaret has engaged with communities and the Australian Government to advance the rights of domestic workers and people who have experienced modern slavery in Australia. Margaret holds a Certificate 3 in Aged Care and a Diploma of Community Services.

Sandra

Sandra has been advocating for the rights of people in slavery for more than three years. Sandra came to Australia as a domestic worker and found herself in slavery in Western Sydney. Having found freedom, Sandra knows first-hand the courage and bravery it takes to reach out for help and through her work as an advocate, encourages others in similar situations to speak out. Sandra has worked with the community and government to raise awareness and increase support to victims in Australia. Sandra is trained as an assistant in nursing and works full time in Aged Care.

PREVIOUS IMPACT PARTNERS

cambodian children's trust (2015-2017)

Supported for close to two years, PROJECT FUTURES donated $198,202 to the Cambodian Children's Trust (CCT); a community development organisation in Battambang that operates a holistic range of services that prevent vulnerable children and their families from being exploited, subjected to forced labour, begging or being trafficked into orphanages.

From education, to social support, healthcare, cultural activities, nutrition and community outreach, CCT offers support to over 400 people through community youth centres and advocates strongly for family-based care.

CCT met our goals of providing best-practice solutions that work to prevent the exploitation of children by addressing their basic needs, ensuring they receive a quality education and preventing them from being trafficked into orphanages or across borders. Migration in cities like Battambang is significant as it is so close to the border with Thailand.

CHILD WISE (2011-2016)

Child Wise work to build awareness, deliver education, and provide the tools to empower individuals and communities around Australia to actively prevent child abuse and exploitation.

PROJECT FUTURES partnered with Child Wise for almost six years in support of programs that reduce incidence and impact of child abuse and exploitation in Australia. This included a campaign to raise awareness and drive action against child sex tourism in the Asia-Pacific in 2011, support for the National Child Abuse Prevention from 2013-2015 and most recently, their Personal Safety Program implemented in disadvantaged schools in Victoria.

Since 2011, PROJECT FUTURES donated $214,113 directly to Child Wise through our connection with community, individuals and corporate sponsors in Australia. It has been a proud association with many positive outcomes for children in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

MAITI NEPAL (2013-2014)

Maiti Nepal was born out of a crusade to protect Nepali girls and women from crimes like domestic violence, trafficking for flesh trade, child prostitution, child labor and various forms of abuse, exploitation and torture.

PROJECT FUTURES supported Maiti Nepal in 2013 with a one-time payment of just over $30,000 following a Charity Challenge through the Himalayas.

Reports

REPORTS

We pride ourselves on integrity, honesty and transparency in our dealings with our donors, stakeholders and impact projects.

Reports

REPORTS

We pride ourselves on integrity, honesty and transparency in our dealings with our donors, stakeholders and impact projects.

Annual Report

PROJECT FUTURES is committed to being a transparent organisation. Our annual reports allow our donors and supporters to be confident with where we are directing our funds and where we are investing to grow the organisation. We also comply to the Australian Charities and Not For Profit Commission (ACNC) reporting standards and our financial records are audited annually.

IMpACT AND PROGRESS REPORTS

Impact Reports published once a year aims to give our supporters and future donors a comprehensive overview of the work that our impact partners provide on the ground. We will showcase the scale and scope of projects that together provide a holistic support service for victims and those at most risk of this crime.

From November 2016, we also started to release progress reports every two months to provide a snapshot of some of the great outcomes we have had over this period. It is important to us that we continue to demonstrate how important your contribution is to supporting our goal to end human trafficking.

collateral

Our mission is to give by transforming the lives of women and children affected by slavery and exploitation by creating meaningful experiences that raise funds, educate and empower others to take action. For more information please download our Story Book and brochure to share them amongst your network.

Our Team

The PROJECT FUTURES team is made up of passionate professionals who dedicate their time, skills and talents to forward our mission

Our Team

our TEAM

The PROJECT FUTURES team is made up of passionate professionals who dedicate their time, skills and talents to forward our mission

OUR CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Founders Story

FOUNDERS STORY

At just 22 years old, Stephanie was introduced to the issue of human trafficking after reading the heart-wrenching biography by Somaly Mam, a Cambodian woman sold into the sex trade as a child.

Founders Story

FOUNDERS STORY

At just 22 years old, Stephanie was introduced to the issue of human trafficking after reading the heart-wrenching biography by Somaly Mam, a Cambodian woman sold into the sex trade as a child.

Stephanie Lorenzo

With a Bachelor of International Communication from Macquarie University held in hand, Stephanie Lorenzo didn’t begin her career planning to start a charity. It was a chance encounter with a book about sex trafficking when she was 22, and a life-changing trip to Cambodia that left her asking, 'how could this be real?'. In June 2009, Stephanie unlocked her purpose, creating a movement to help facilitate an end to human trafficking and exploitation. That movement was PROJECT FUTURES.

Stephanie’s ‘purpose equals action’ leadership approach has enabled her to mobilise young professionals to engage in creative, innovative and sustainable fundraising initiatives. The PROJECT FUTURES community is now raising $1 million a year for anti-trafficking projects in the Asia Pacific region.

Stephanie’s core message is about harnessing the ‘power of purpose’ in our lives. Once you discover your ‘why’, you are empowered to take action and manifest your gift to the world.

In 2016, Stephanie was a finalist in the Qantas and Women's Weekly 'Women of the Future Award', in 2014 named one of the Financial Review and Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence, in 2013 was nominated as Australian of the Year. Most recently, Stephanie has joined the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board for the Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML).